Sealed With a Kiss (9)

Bronx, New York
4 pm - Present Day

NYPD busted a small gift shop near Pelham Bay Park. "Have you seen this guy?" Asked the police officer as he handed the picture to the shopkeeper who looked at it with sheer dismay and uttered, "He was just here!"
*************************************************

"Guess what?" Asked Isaiah as soon as Ciara logged in.

"What?" She asked agitatedly, her light blue eyes widened with a sparkle.

"I've got something for you. I hope you like it. Damn! Why are we still typing?" He remarked wearing his headphones and sending her the voice chat request.

"What did you say?" Asked Ciara putting on her headphones.

"Umm... it's a gift. I hope you like it though. I... I saw this thing in a shop the other day and I instantly thought of you so I figured you'd like it."

"Umm, I don't want anything. But thanks a lot."

The expression on Isaiah's face changed and he grumbled diffidently, "Why? Can't I gift you anything?"

"No gifts please."

"You still have some reservations about me, don't you?" He scrunched his eyebrows in disgust.

"No, it's not that. It's just..." She gulped wondering what she should say next, "It's just..."

"Forget it Ciara. You don't have to struggle to find an excuse."

"No, I am not... oh God! Isaiah I am just... I mean... okay, tell me one thing. How are you going to give it to me? I mean you're in NY and I am here."

"I can send it by post."

"But you need my address for that. And I am not sure if I can give it to you."

"I can totally understand," he said surrendering.

Ciara realized that she might have hurt Isaiah's feelings and so she tried to make up for it, "Okay, whenever we'll meet you can gift it to me and I'll accept it. Now tell me, what is it that you've bought?"

"It's an embroidery thread set. You once told me that you want to be a fashion designer so I thought..." He stopped talking and after a short pause continued, "you must be thinking how stupid I am, giving you a thread set."

"Oh! No. That's really sweet and thoughtful of you. I am glad to see that you remembered it. To be honest, no one before actually paid any attention to my dreams. My parents don't even know what I want to do in life. I guess no one really cares."

"I do," he spoke up abruptly, "I care for you, your dreams and I promise you I will do everything in my power to make them come true."

"What is your dream, Isaiah? Or you don't have any just like you have no aim in life?"

He struggled to answer but finally mumbled, "I think I have a dream now."

"Really? And what is it?"

As he began to speak something inside withheld him to do so, "I've had nightmares, Ciara. Terrible nightmares. But not anymore. I see pleasant dreams now," he added with a smile.

"What do you see in your dreams?"

"I... I'll tell you later."

"What? Why? Tell me now. I want to know," she said pouting.

"When the time is right," he answered firmly.
*************************************************

"So who's going to be your date?" Marcy asked Ciara as they were heading towards cafeteria.

"Date?" Asked she perplexed.

"Yes, date. Don't you know it's Valentine's Day next week and we're having this huge party? You have to bring a date with you if you want your ass in the party."

"I don't care," replied Ciara bluntly as they sat on the table, "I am not coming to the party."

"What? Are you mad? You know everyone from school is going to be there, how can you be so stupid as to skip it? You're coming sweetie and that's final."

"I don't care about this party and besides, I don't even have a date."

"So what? Ask someone. May be he'd like to go with you. Ooh well, I've seen him staring at you in the History class," revealed Marcy gesturing at the guy on the next table.

"Seth Gabel? Seriously? He's gay."

"What? Wow! Never mind," she said shrugging off, "how about him?"

"Who?"

"Him," Marcy pointed at Ryan who was entering in. Ciara looked at her inquisitively and before she could say anything, Ryan came swaying towards them and asked, "Hey, can I sit?"

"Umm, sure." Answered Marcy excitedly.

"So are you girls coming to the party?" He asked looking at her.

"Well, I am. But I don't think Ciara can make it."

"Why is that?" He asked with concern.

"Well, she doesn't have a date you know. Lot of people have asked her but she has refused everyone. Silly girl! Waiting for the Prince Charming, I guess. But the poor Prince doesn't even know about it, yet," she winked.

"Well she should ask that Prince then. I am sure he'll say yes," suggested Ryan playing along.

Marcy grinned and added, "Ugh! What can be done? She's too shy you know. I guess the Prince has to make the first move."

"Should he?" He asked looking at Ciara through the corner of his eyes.

"Umm, you know what. I should leave you alone with her so that you can figure that out for yourself," and with a chuckle she left the table much to Ciara's annoyance.

Ryan turned towards her and mumbled, "So, is your friend right?"

Ciara faked a smile, contemplating in her mind on what to reply but before she could open her mouth he interrupted again, "Well, let me make it easier for you," he said bringing his chair closer to hers, "Ciara, Would you please come with me to the Valentine's Day party, as my date?"

"Ryan... I," she said hesitantly, "I am not sure. I mean its valentine's day so people would get the wrong idea."

"Oh! Okay! Anyway..." He was offended now, "I need to go. See you around," said he and left.

Ciara had wounded his ego. The hottest guy in the school asked her out on a date but she refused, and that too so bluntly. She remained seated there for a while dealing with the guilt.
*************************************************

"Isaiah today was the worst day of my life," she said putting on the headphones, "I am so embarrassed."

"What happened?" He asked inquisitively.

"Well, there's this Valentine's day party next week and Ryan, he's like the hottest guy in the school, asked me to be his date and I think I ended up insulting him. He seemed pretty offended."

"Why did he ask you to be his date?"

"Well, I guess he likes me and..."

"Do you like him?" He confirmed without wasting anytime.

"Well, yes, I guess. I mean he's a great guy you know. He's sweet. I do like him."

This made Isaiah slightly uncomfortable. A torrent of emotions flowed through his heart which didn't take much time in pouring out from his eyes, "Is that so? Well, then you should definitely go out with him. I am sure you'll have a great time and he'll make you happy. I just want you to be happy, Ciara."

"Really? You think so?" She re-confirmed, "I guess you're right. I'll say yes to him tomorrow."

"Have a great time, Ciara," he wished with a forced smile.

"I hope so. Don't you miss this Isaiah? Going to school? Hanging with friends, attending classes, partying, having fun?"
He laughed slightly, trying to cover his pain, "I don't. May be because, I've never had the privilege of attending a school."

"You've never been to school?"

"No, I've never been to school. I have been home schooled since kindergarten."

"What?" She asked recollecting what he said earlier about going to school, "but you told me that day that you're a high school dropout. You never mentioned anything about being home schooled."

The color of Isaiah's face faded as he fidgeted in his chair nervously regretting his last words.

"Isaiah, are you there?" Asked Ciara upon getting no response from the other side.

"Hmm I'm here," he answered calming himself.

"So? Home schooled or not?"

After a short pause, he replied, "I am homeschooled but then," he gulped, "but then I... stopped taking tuitions when I entered my sophomore year. So technically, I am a dropout."

Ciara knew something was fishy but she chose to ignore it and continued, "Okay. Well, as they say you can hate school life as much as you want to but in reality it is the most beautiful experience of your life."

"I guess you're right. But it's okay now. I'll live my school life through you."

"Are you okay Isaiah? You don't sound well," she remarked sensing something unusual in his tone.

"I am okay. It's just that," he sighed as tears filled his eyes, "I am worried, Ciara. I know I shouldn't be but..." He stopped and took a deep breath as it helped him holding back his tears, "I am worried that you'll leave me. I know I shouldn't say this but... what if Ryan won't let you talk to me? What if he objects to our friendship?"

As stunned and as overwhelmed as she was after hearing his concern, Ciara didn't take much time in getting him rid of all his painful assumptions, "What are you saying Isaiah? Why would I ever leave you? And why would Ryan ask me to stop talking to you? He's nothing to me. Going to the party as his date doesn't change the fact that he is nothing more to me than a friend.

And you, you are my best friend. Why would I ever pay heed to people who don't respect our friendship? You're special to me, no one else.

You know Isaiah, I don't know if you realize this, but this thing that we have between us... people might say that we're just "online friends" or "net friends" but you and I both know what we mean to each other. No one can fathom this. I haven't seen you neither you have seen me but does it really matter now? People go out on dates, fuck each other but still they can't form the connection that we have between us. Even I don't know what it is but... I think it is the very foundation of my being."

"Do you realize what you're saying?" He asked as tears soaked his face, "Do you even have the slightest idea that what you've just said can actually change the course of my life? You're knocking at my door right now, Ciara, carrying the dreams, hope, sunshine and happiness in your little basket and if I open this door and let you inside this dark, gloomy and malicious place then you'll be stuck here forever. Do you want to get stuck in here Ciara?"

"With you?" She confirmed.

"Yes."

"I am ready then. I would rather get stuck with you in that little dark room than to be outside in the sunshine where I cannot find you," she said wiping her tears, "And Isaiah, whatever little sunshine and hope I have in my basket, I promise that I'd give it all to you and won't even keep the slightest portion of it for myself because I don't need any of it. You know why? Because you're my sunshine and as long as I have you in my life, I don't need anything else. Our little room will always be lit up with the light of love."

A beam of light, rupturing the black clouds, entered into their hearts tearing the darkness prevailing in them for so long.
*************************************************

Replies to Your Comments -

Martin - Thanks a lot.

Baby L - Thanks a lot for the appreciation.

Zarima - Hey thanks a lot for your support. I was getting a really cold response so I figured that it would be better if I stop writing this story. But not anymore. I'll continue with it. Lol, you know even I wish sometimes that I would get a net friend like Isaiah. Dreams don't come true now, do they?

Lisa - Well, I am a girl. Thanks a lot for your kind words and please keep commenting.

Gracie - Thanks a lot Gracie If you have any suggestions then please let me know.

Ananya Garg - I do hope that you can be with him, ALIVE!

Liv T - Thanks a lot for your kind words.

Diana - Well, I certainly agree with you. People have been reading DL for so long now and they have developed a strong connection with the characters. SWK on the other hand, is a new story and it will take time to usher into something beautiful. I hope that I'll get the same response for this one too. Thanks a lot for your appreciation.

Christina - Wow! Thanks a lot Christina for such a beautiful comment. It really made my day! You know it is because of the love that I get from my readers that motivates me to write better. Isaiah does seem to be a creep but his true character will be unveiled soon. Thanks once again for your lovely comment.

Vanessa - I am certainly not going to stop writing it after receiving such overwhelming response from all my readers. I do understand that this is a new story and it will take time in reaching the readers' heart so I am going to continue writing it.

Nandini - It's good to see a comment from you after so long. I'll definitely read your story and give you the feedback.

Shimmer - Thanks a lot Shimmer I hope you'll like this chapter too.